The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to shut down Abuja immediately after President Bola Tinubu concludes the ongoing project inaugurations on July 3, 2025.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, the NLC FCT Chairman, Dr. Stephen Knabayi, said the move is aimed at compelling the FCT Administration and area council authorities to address the prolonged strike by primary school teachers, health workers, and other council staff.
According to Knabayi, the strike—which has lasted several months—stems from unresolved demands, including the payment of the national minimum wage, 40% peculiar allowance, 25% and 35% salary increments, and the ₦35,000 wage award. These issues have led to the closure of primary healthcare centers, deserted council secretariats, and students staying home due to the absence of teachers.
Describing the situation as “very unfortunate,” Knabayi said the union had issued a seven-day ultimatum on June 13 to the FCT Administration, urging urgent action. However, that ultimatum expired on June 20 with no resolution in sight.
“We had to extend the ultimatum because of President Tinubu’s movements and project inaugurations across the FCT,” he explained. “But once that concludes on July 3, the union will mobilize its members to take to the streets of Abuja.”
Knabayi emphasized that the NLC had notified both the FCT Administration and relevant security agencies of the planned protest, which he described as a last resort after all other avenues had failed.
He also raised concerns about the sudden halt in the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage across the six area councils, which reportedly began in May but was discontinued in June without explanation.
“Strike or protest is always the last option. But we were left with no choice. We are not happy, and this is not going to be a small action if nothing is done,” Knabayi warned.
He further alleged that area council chairmen were channeling significant funds toward preparations for the 2026 FCT Area Councils’ Election instead of resolving the workers’ welfare issues.
Knabayi urged the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take firm action and compel the area council chairmen to fulfill their obligations to the workers.
Despite Wike’s previous interventions—including the release of ₦4.1 billion to the councils to aid in salary payments—many of the issues remain unresolved. The minister has reiterated that primary school teachers and health workers fall under the jurisdiction of the area councils, not the FCT Administration.
During a protest on April 24, NUT Chairman Abdullahi Shafa acknowledged Wike’s efforts, while on May 13, the area council chairmen appealed to striking workers—especially teachers—to return to work in the interest of students.
As the deadline for Tinubu’s project inaugurations approaches, tension is mounting over the impending mass action, which could paralyze operations in the nation’s capital if the workers’ demands are not met.
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